Methods for protecting substrates with urethane protective coatings

ABSTRACT

A system for protecting surfaces and facilitating the removal of unwanted substances therefrom is disclosed, the system including a polymeric coating having a low volatile organics content (VOC) which is safe for the environment, and a cleaner for application to the coating to remove material from the coating, such as graffiti. The coating may be either a water-based epoxy comprising a bisphenol A resin and polyamide resin, or an aliphatic urethane comprising a polymer having reactive sites which react with a isocyanate and an aliphatic isocyanate. The cleaner is suitable for removing all manner of epoxy and urethane based spray paints, indelible inks, industrial chemicals, and the like. The cleaner comprises N-methyl pyrrolidone in a concentration of fifty percent by weight or greater and a surfactant.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/403,583, entitled "SURFACE PRE-TREATMENT FOR THE REMOVAL OF GRAFFITITHEREFROM," filed Mar. 14, 1995, the names of Michael N. Macris andDavid Dobney now abandoned. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/403,583is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/056,250 entitled "SURFACE PRE-TREATMENTFOR THE REMOVAL OF GRAFFITI THEREFROM," filed Apr. 30, 1993, in thenames of Michael N. Macris and David Dobney now abandoned. U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/056,250 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 07/877,840, entitled "SURFACE PRE-TREATMENT FOR THEREMOVAL OF GRAFFITI THEREFROM," filed May 1, 1992, in the names ofMichael N. Macris and David Dobney now abandoned.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to means for facilitating removal of unwantedsubstances, such as graffiti, from walls or similar surfaces.Specifically, this invention relates to the pre-treatment of surfaceswith environmentally safe coatings which allow removal of contaminantsand graffiti from the surface without degradation of the underlyingcoating.

BACKGROUND

The application of graffiti to walls, vehicles and other surfaces hasbeen a concern to society and individuals for decades. Graffiti is notonly unsightly, but destructive, and leads to the expenditure ofmillions of dollars each year to obliterate or remove the graffiti andto restore the underlying surface. In some cities, for example, graffitiis such a pervasive problem that special booths are constructed throughwhich municipal buses are driven to clean and restore the paint on thebody of the vehicle.

Traditionally, graffiti has been removed by sandblasting the paintedsurface, but sandblasting obviously damages the surface over time andreduces its longevity Graffiti has also been removed by simplyrepainting or recoating the graffitied surface. Repainting or recoating,however, is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, a variety ofsystems have been developed for preventing, removing or obliteratinggraffiti. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,039,745 to Riddle, issued Aug. 13, 1991 (system providing a non-sticksurface); U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,975 to Dessaint, issued Oct. 23, 1984(disclosing a fluorinated copolymer for water- and oil-proofingsurfaces); U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,056 to Fox, et al., issued Dec. 29, 1987(disclosing a pre-reacted water-based epoxy color coating forobliterating graffiti); U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,780 to Leys, issued Jun. 18,1991 (disclosing a substance for removing graffiti as well as paint andother coatings); U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,237 to Svensson, issued May 21,1991 (disclosing a polysaccharide coating which hardens on a surface andwhich is thereafter removed when soiled); U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,745 toEbbeler, issued Oct. 12, 1982 (disclosing a clear protective coating fora surface which is thereafter removed when soiled); and U.S. Pat. No.4,600,522 to Grzeskowiak, et ale, issued Jul. 15, 1986 (disclosing abiodegradable cleaner for removing graffiti from anodized aluminum,stainless steel and glass).

One of the most commonly used graffiti removal systems at presentcomprises coating a surface with a substance which is thereafter removedwhen soiled by graffiti or other material. Such systems are commonlyreferred to as "sacrificial coatings" since the coating is removed aftersoiling and must be replaced to provide further protection from graffitiand other contaminants.

Other graffiti removal systems provide obliterative coatings forcovering graffiti already applied to a surface. A system of that type isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,056 (referenced previously) in which acolored water-based epoxy coating is applied over a graffitied surfacefollowed by an aliphatic urethane top coating. Because both thewater-based epoxy and urethane coatings described therein arepre-reacted (i.e., cross-linked prior to mixing or application) and areable to be applied only after addition of a solvent and a hardener, thecoatings are susceptible to degradation from application of solventduring cleaning. That is, integrity of the polymers is compromised uponsubsequent application of solvent.

A number of polymer coatings presently on the market which purport to beformulated for the easy removal of graffiti therefrom are cured bysolvent evaporation. While such coatings have some advantages over olderformulations, they are susceptible to degradation from the solvents inspray paints used for making graffiti. That is, the solvents in spraypaints weaken the polymeric integrity of the coating and a portion ofthe spray paint becomes imbedded in the coating as it cures. This isparticularly prevalent when the graffiti is not removed withinthirty-six hours after application. When cleaned, a residual amount ofgraffiti remains on the coating.

Solvent evaporation-cured coatings, as well as chemically cross-linkedpolymeric coatings currently on the market may be sufficiently cleanableto remove an acceptable amount of graffiti therefrom, but repeatedcleanings tend to weaken the polymeric bonds of these coatings so thatthe coating becomes ineffective or permanently stained after arelatively few number of cleanings.

Additionally, many graffiti systems require removal of graffiti from thecoating surface with volatile chemical substances which are potentiallyharmful to the user and particularly harmful to the environment. Evenwith sacrificial coatings, the protective coating and the chemicals usedto remove the coating are potentially unsafe for the environment.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a graffiti removal systemcomprising a non-sacrificed polymeric protective coating which is notsusceptible to degradation when solvents and cleaners are applied, andwhich has a low volatile organics content thereby rendering the coatingsafe for the environment and users, and a non-toxic, biodegradablecleaner for removing graffiti from the protective coating which does notaffect or degrade the coating.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a graffiti-removal system isprovided which includes a protective coating for application to anunderlying surface, the coating being either a water-based epoxy or analiphatic urethane material having a low volatile organics content, anda non-toxic, biodegradable cleaner. The coatings of the presentinvention provide a strong and impenetrable surface which is neitherdegraded nor compromised by the application of solvents or cleaners andwhich is particularly unaffected by application of the biodegradablecleaner of the inventions. That is, the cleaner, when applied to thecoating, will not compromise the integrity of the protective coating,but will effectively remove graffiti therefrom. The protective coatingsof the invention are suitable for application to many surfaces for theeasy removal of unwanted contaminants therefrom, such as industrialbyproducts and wastes. However, this disclosure focusses on removal ofgraffiti as an exemplar.

The protective coating of the invention is applicable to a variety ofsurfaces, including but not limited to stone, masonry, brick, wood andmetal, which have been properly prepared. The protective coating isgenerally a nonpre-reacted polymer material which cures by chemicalcross-linking producing a high bond density. The coating bondseffectively to any surface.

After being contaminated by graffiti, or some other unwanted substance,the protective coating is contacted with cleaner to remove the graffiti.The protective coating is neither affected by the cleaner nor by thecontaminants placed thereon, such as solvent-based paints. The coatingis particularly formulated to be unaffected by prolonged application(longer than fifteen minutes) of one hundred percent concentratedN-methyl pyrrolidone. All other known coatings will degrade (i.e. softenand become permeable to entry of the unwanted substances, loss ofadhesion, blistering, etc.) after a few minutes of being contacted withsuch a high concentration of N-methyl pyrrolidone. The protectivecoating may be cleaned continuously (more than one hundred times)without any need for reapplication of the coating. The protectivecoating of the present invention also has excellent weatherability andis resistant to chalking, flaking and yellowing (i.e., no chalking,flaking or yellowing is observed after the coating has been subjected toenvironmental forces for over three months).

The protective coating may be a water-based epoxy which is water solubleand has a low volatile organics content (about 0.05 to about 2.0 poundsper gallon about 0.059 kg to about 0.24 kg per liter!). The water-basedepoxy coating generally comprises a two component system which providesmixture of the polymeric components to initiate cross-linking of thepolymers. Cross-linking of the mixture after being applied to thesurface assures integrity of the coating against subsequent applicationof solvents. An epoxy resin, a polyamide resin, an ether diluent, water,a flow agent and a coalescing agent are included in the formulation. Thewater-based epoxy may be used in a clear state, or color additives maybe mixed therewith. Typically, because epoxies produce a slightyellowish hue in the clear state, color additives are most desirablyused with the water-based epoxy coating.

The water-based epoxy coating is easily applied, provides easy clean-up,has very little odor and dries to a hard, porcelain-like finish. Thecoating is very durable and is resistant to staining or damage byabrasion. The coating is very easily cleaned. The water-based epoxycoating may be formulated with a gloss, semi-gloss or flat finish.

Another type of protective coating which may be used in the presentinvention is a nonpre-reacted aliphatic urethane generally comprising apolymer having a reactive site which reacts with an isocyanate, anisocyanate, a hydrocarbon-based solvent or mixture of solvents and flowagents. Like the water-based epoxy coating, the aliphatic urethane isformed from two components which, when mixed, initiate cross-linking ofthe polymers. The polymers selected for use in the coating have agreater content of reactive groups per unit weight thereby producing ahigh density of cross-linkages, and the coating is thereforeparticularly resistant to subsequent application of solvents.

The urethane coating has the advantage over water-based epoxy of beingusable in a clear state. That is, urethanes are not subject to ayellowing tint, so the aliphatic urethane coating may be used in theclear state. The urethane coating may also be supplemented withpigments, and may be formulated with either a gloss, semi-gloss or flatfinish.

The aliphatic urethane coating inherently has a higher volatile organicscontent (VOC) than the water-based epoxy Nonetheless, the VOC of thealiphatic urethane coating is still comparatively small, ranging fromabout 2.0 to about 3.0 pounds per gallon (0.24 kg to 0.36 kg per liter).However, because some states or regions have particularly stringentrequirements regarding the VOC of products used in the environment, theurethane coating may not be suitable for application in those areas.

The urethane coating provides a fast-drying, tough and durable finish toall manner and form of surfaces, including wood, metal, drywall,plaster, masonry and the like. The applied coating is stain resistant,easy to clean and is abrasion resistant. Both coatings may be applied topreviously untreated surfaces or pre-treated surfaces, such as paintedsurfaces. The surfaces should be properly prepared prior to applicationof the coating. Any conventional means of application, such as brushing,spraying, or rolling, may be used to apply the coatings to a surface.

It is generally desirable to apply the coatings with a suitablethickness of material to assure coverage of previously treated surfaces,such as painted walls, and to assure a comprehensive protective coating.Under many conditions, a single application of the coating of theinvention is sufficient. Subsequent coats may be applied as necessary.It is possible, though not required, to make an application of one typeof coating, either the water-based epoxy or the urethane, followed by anapplication of the other type of coating. Because the urethane coatingmay slightly alter the color of some surfaces (i.e., it produces a "wetlook") it may be desirable to initially apply a barrier/sealant.

The coatings of the present invention, once applied, may be cleaned witha number of different materials. Water may be used to flush the soiledcoating where appropriate. Any number of commercially availablecleaners, such as acetone, xylene and other industrial solvents, mayalso be used on the coatings without damaging the coatings.

Additionally, a biodegradable cleaner is disclosed which is non-toxicand safe for use near water sources. The water soluble cleaner dissolvesall types of epoxy and urethane paints and indelible marking inks. Thecleaner is formulated to act upon the protective coating to removecontaminants therefrom while not compromising the integrity of theprotective coating. The cleaner generally comprises N-methyl pyrrolidonein a concentration greater than fifty percent by weight and asurfactant.

Immediately following application of the biodegradable cleaner to theprotective coating, the graffiti material begins to bead and lift awayfrom the protective coating. The graffiti and cleaner may then be wipedoff with a cloth or, preferably, may be washed away with a pressurizedwater spray, such as a squirt bottle The biodegradable cleaner may beused to clean surfaces not coated with the protective coatings of thepresent invention.

The combination of pre-packaged coating components and cleaner providesa convenient means for the user to mix the two components and apply themixture to a surface to produce an impenetrable protective coating, andto easily clean the protective coating after graffiti or other unwantedsubstances have been placed on the cured coating.

BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION

The graffiti-removal system of the present invention includes aprotective coating for application to a surface and a biodegradablecleaner, as described further hereinafter.

Protective Coating

Water-based Epoxy

The water-based epoxy protective coating material is formed from twoseparate chemical mixtures, one component being a base and the secondcomponent being a reactant. The coating is formed of two separatecomponents in order to provide non-reacted materials since pre-reactedcoatings tend to result in lessened strength or integrity of the coatingonce applied to the surface. The base component includes a bisphenol Aepoxy resin having an equivalent weight of from about 100 to about 500.As used herein, molecular weight refers to the sum of the weight of eachmolecule in the polymer and, therefore, carries no dimensionaldesignation, and equivalent weight is calculated as the molecular weightdivided by the functionality of the polymer. A particularly suitableresin is 331 Epoxy Resin made by Dow Chemical Company (Midland, Mich.;product code 19248). The 331 Epoxy Resin is formed from the reaction ofepichlorohydrin and bisphenol A, has a preferred equivalent weight of190, a functionality of 2.0, and a molecular weight of 380. The amountof resin in the base component may be increased to produce a glossfinish in the coating. For a flat finish, less resin is present in thebase and a flatting agent, such as magnesium silicate, diatomaceoussilica or fumed silica, is added.

The base component also includes a glycidyl ether diluent whichfacilitates thinning of the material and facilitates curing. Theglycidyl ether diluent has an equivalent weight of from about 50 toabout 350. A particularly suitable diluent is Epodil 732 made by PacificAnchor Chemical (Los Angeles, Calif.) which has a molecular weight ofabout 165. A coalescing agent and defoamer are also part of the basecomponent and serve to coalesce the water and solvent phase of thecoating. A particularly suitable coalescing agent is a nonylphenolethoxylated-type agent, such as Igepal Co-897 made by Rhone-Poulenc(Louisville, Ky.). A particularly suitable defoamer may be a mixture ofsilicone in paraffin-based mineral oil. Byk®-034 Defoamer made byBYK-Chemie USA (Wallingford, Conn.) is appropriate for use in the basecomponent Byk®-034 has a density of about 0.84 to 0.88 g/cm³ at 20° C.and a refractive index of 1472 to 1482.

The base component further includes either 2 butoxyethanol or ethyleneglycol monobutyl ether as a water-miscible solvent Butyl Cellosolve®Solvent, having a molecular weight of 118.18, made by Union Carbide(Danbury, Conn.) may be particularly suitable for this purpose. Anamount of water is also added. The water may be from the tap, de-ionizedor distilled. A silicone additive, such as BYK®-370 (BYK Chemie Co.;equivalent weight of 48) may be added in the amount of about 1% to 5% ofthe total volume to render the coating more repellent and resistant toscratching.

A pigment or coloring agent may preferably be added to the basecomponent since epoxy inherently produces a yellowish tint in the clearstate. Any number of coloring agents may be added depending on thedesired color. Examples of pigments include titanium dioxide, red ironoxide, black iron, yellow iron oxide, and the like. However, thewater-based epoxy may be used in the clear state if desired.

The reactant component of the water-based epoxy protective coatingincludes a polyamide resin having an equivalent weight of about 50 toabout 600, isopropanol (about 50% to about 99% by concentration), andwater. The polyamide resin serves as a curing agent in the formation ofthe coating. Particularly suitable polyamide resins for use in thereactant component are Casamid 360W and Casamid 362W, both made byPacific Anchor Chemical Corp. (Los Angeles, Calif.). Casamid 360W has apreferred equivalent weight of 160 and a specific gravity of 1.05 at 68°F. (20° C.).

Aliphatic Urethane

The protective coating of the present invention may also be an aliphaticurethane having a low volatile organics content (VOC) formed from twoseparate components, a base component which includes a polymer havingreactive sites capable of reacting with isocyanates and a reactantcomponent, which provide initiation of cross-linking of the polymericcomponents upon mixing. The aliphatic urethane coating is primarilycharacterized by the impenetrable surface it provides due to the highdensity of cross-linkages in the polymer as compared to other types ofcross-linked polymeric coatings. The aliphatic urethane coating is thusresistant to penetration of any substances such as solvents or foods, isstain-resistant and weather-resistant, and is not compromised oraffected by application of any cleaner. In particular, the aliphaticurethane coating is formulated to withstand application of highconcentrations (50% to 100% by weight) of N-methyl pyrrolidone withouteffecting the integrity of the cross-linkages in the coating.

The base component of the aliphatic urethane coating includes a polymeror monomer having a hydroxyl or amine content (i.e., the percent of theOH or NH weight relative to the weight of the molecule) in the range of1.0% to 94.0%. Suitable materials include acrylic polyols, polyetherpolyols, and ethylene or propylene glycols. Particularly suitable is asaturated polyester polyol having an equivalent weight of from about 150to about 1300. An exemplar suitable material is Desmophen 650A-65PMA(Mobay Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa.) which has a preferred equivalent weightof about 325 (between 320 and 330), a functionality of 12 and amolecular weight of about 3900 (between 3500 and 4300).

The base component also includes a solvent or mixture of solvents, andsuitable solvents include methyl ethyl ketone, n-butyl acetate, xylene,glycol ethers and acetates thereof , such as propylene glycol monomethylether acetate (PM Acetate), toluene, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl amylketone, ethyl acetate and 1-1-1 trichloroethane (used in low VOCformulations). A metal-containing accelerator, or catalyst, selected forreactivity of cyano (NCO) and hydroxyl (OH) groups or cyano (NCO) andamine (NH₂) groups may be added to the base component. Such catalystsinclude tributyltinoxide, dibutyltin dilaurate and metal carboxylates.

Flow agents may be added to the base component to improve handling ofthe substance. Examples of such flow agents include a combination of anethyl acrylate and 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate (Modaflow®), polysiloxanes,acrylics and polyacrylics, acrylates and polyacrylates and silicones. Asurface additive, such as hydroxy polydimethylsiloxane, hydroxypolydialkylsiloxane or similar siloxane or silicone compounds, may beadded to enhance the abrasion-resistant characteristic of the coating. Aparticularly suitable silicone additive is BYK®-370 (BYK Chemie,Wallingford, Conn.).

The aliphatic urethane coating may be formulated in gloss, semi-gloss orflat finishes, and may be clear or pigmented. In a flat finishformulation, silicate flatting agents, such as magnesium silicate(talc), diatomaceous silica or fumed silica, may be used to produce aflat finish. Also, anti-settling agents may be added, such as abentonite, polyamide, polyolefin, or polyether esters. The coating maybe pigmented with any pigment, colorant or dye commonly used in theindustry.

The reactant component of the aliphatic urethane coating includes analiphatic polyisocyanate having a isocyanate (NCO) content (i.e.,percentage of the weight of the cyano group relative to the weight ofthe molecule) ranging from about 3.0% to about 50.0%, a molecular weightof from about 100 to about 5,000 or greater, and an equivalent weight offrom about 100 to about 500. A preferred molecular weight may be about850. Exemplar materials include hexamethylene diisocyanate, andisophorone diisocyanate.

A particularly suitable material is Desmodur N-75 (Mobay Corp,Pittsburgh, Pa.) which has a preferred equivalent weight of 255, afunctionality of 3.3 to 3.5, a molecular weight of between 841.5 and 892and an NCO content of about 16.5%. Desmodur N-75, for example, ispre-formulated with butyl acetate and xylene, but these or othersolvents may be added to a diisocyanate material as needed. Awater-binding agent, such as an alkyl ortho formate, may need to beadded to the reactant component to absorb water, particularly when thereactant component has been sitting for some time.

When the base component and reactant component are added together, asdescribed further hereafter, and are in a liquid state, a typical clearcoating, in either a flat, gloss or semi-gloss finish, will contain frombetween about 29% to about 33% by weight of curable polymer (such as apolyester polyol), between about 23% to about 27% by weight of reactant(such as a diisocyanate), between about 37% to about 45% by weight ofsolvent or combined solvents (such as MEK, xylene and the like) andbetween about 0% to about 4.5% by weight of other materials, such asflatting agents, silicates, flow agents or an accelerator. In a whitecoating, to which a pigment may be added, the typical composition willcontain about 27% by weight of curable polymer, about 18% by weight ofreactant, about 33% by weight of solvent or mixed solvents, about 2% byweight of other materials (flatting agents, flow agents, etc.), andabout 25% by weight of titanium dioxide.

Prior to application to a surface of either the water-based epoxycoating or the aliphatic urethane coating, the surface must be prepared.The surface may be previously painted. The surface to be coated shouldbe free from wax, grease, oil or like materials. If the water-basedepoxy is to be applied, the surface need not be free of moisture sincemoisture, if not free standing, is not detrimental to application orperformance of the coating. However, if the aliphatic urethane is to beapplied, the surface should be dry. When applying either coating, anyglossy, glazed or dense surfaces must be dulled prior to application.

Any patching or seaming of surfaces should be completed beforeapplication. Concrete block or similar rough surfaces may be filled withan acrylic block filler. Metals should be primed with a rust inhibitingprimer. The primer should be allowed to dry at least six hours beforeapplying the protective coating of the present inventions

Thirty minutes before application, equal amounts of the base componentand the reactant component of the water-based epoxy coating are mixedtogether by stirring. A lifting motion should be used to assure completemixing. The pot life of the admixture is at least four hours and, ifdesired, the mixture can be refrigerated to extend pot life. Thedual-component mixture may be applied to the target surface by anyconventional means, such as brushing or spraying. The surfacetemperature should be from about 50° F. (10° C.) to a maximum of 95° F.(35° C.). Application should be done when the ambient temperature isabove 50° F. (10° C.) and not greater than about 85° F. (30° C.).

A gallon (3.785 liters) of water-based epoxy coating will cover about150 to about 200 square feet (about 14 square meters to about 19 squaremeters). The resulting coverage may be about 2.0 mil to about 4.0 mil(0.051 mm to 0.10 mm) depending on surface porosity and applicationmethod and number of applications. The coating is tack-free in about anhour, and a recoat may be reapplied after six hours. The coating iscompletely cured at between 24 to 48 hours. Contrary to prior artsolvent-based epoxy systems, the water-based epoxy coating of thepresent invention will not lift prior alkyd or latex finishes having agloss or sheen. In most cases, a single coating of the water-based epoxycoating is sufficient to protect the underlying surface from damage andwill provide a coating which is easily cleaned after application ofgraffiti or other material.

Equipment used in applying the water-based epoxy system, and thesurrounding area, may be easily cleaned with soap and water. Ifequipment is used for long periods of time or is allowed to sit unusedfor an extended period of time, a washing solvent may be required toclean the equipment.

Because application of the aliphatic urethane coating may slightlydarken the color of the underlying surface (typically producing the lookof a damp surface) it may be desirable to first coat the surface with abarrier/sealant formulated to prevent color change of the underlyingsurface and to prevent "bleeding" of other coatings into the aliphaticurethane coating. A particular useful barrier is a water-based coatingcomprising an acrylic copolymer, siloxane, dimethyl carbinol, water,flow additives and coalescing agents. One or two coats may be applied toa prepared surface, as required or desired. A thin coat, not exceeding 2mil (0.051 mm), is recommended.

At any time prior to application, a one to four ratio of base componentand reactant component of the aliphatic urethane coating may be mixedtogether using an upward motion to assure complete mixing. The mixturehas a pot life of at least four hours and may be refrigerated to extendpot life. As with the water-based epoxy coating, one gallon will coverabout 150 to about 200 square feet (about 14 square meters to about 19square meters) with a resulting coating thickness of from about 2.0 toabout 4.0 mil (0.051 mm to about 0.10 mm), depending on the surfaceporosity and texture, and the method of application. Application shouldbe done on surfaces having a temperature of less than 95° F. (35° C.),and should be done when the ambient temperature is between about 50° F.(10° C.) and 85° F. (30° C.). The coating is tack-free after one hour,and a subsequent coat may be applied after six hours. The coating issubstantially cured at about 24 to 48 hours and fully cured at 7 days.

Equipment must be cleaned promptly after application of the aliphaticurethane coating. The equipment may be cleaned with either xylene,lacquer thinner or n-butyl acetate. If the equipment has been allowed tosit for a long period of time and the coating has begun to harden on theequipment, the cleaner described hereinafter might be effective to cleanthe equipment.

The aliphatic urethane coating of the present invention is particularlysuited for graffiti control because it provides a hardened (85 D Shore)surface which is abrasion-resistant, chemical-resistant andhigh-temperature resistant (93.3° C.). The coating is permeable to airmaking it suitable for architectural use. The coating is alsoweather-resistant as shown in TABLE I, below.

The relative high density of the cross-linking of the aliphatic urethanecoating renders it significantly more resistant to degradation fromapplication of solvents and other strong chemicals than other coatings,as shown in TABLE II, below.

The aliphatic urethane coating of the present invention was comparedwith other coatings currently marketed and used as anti-graffiticoatings in application of 100% concentration N-methyl pyrrolidone withthe results shown in TABLE III. The four coatings a) the aliphaticpolyester urethane of the present invention (APU), b) ProSoCo GraffitiControl A&B of ProSoCo, Inc., Kansas City, Kans. (ProSoCo), c) Tex-Cote®Graffiti Gard IIIS of Textured Coatings of America, Inc, Los Angeles,Calif. (Tex-Cote®), and d) Monochem Perma Shield®--Graffiti ResistantCoating of Monopole, International, Inc., Glendale Calif. (PermaShield®), were prepared in accordance with the ASTH D-609 protocol andwere allowed to cure per the manufacturer's specifications. The sampleswere then immersed in 100% N-methyl pyrrolidone per ASTH F-483,procedure 8-9.0, protocol. The samples were checked at five minuteintervals for softening, lifting, blistering and discoloration. It canbe seen that the APU coating is capable of withstanding prolongedexposure to high concentrations of N-methyl pyrrolidone while othergraffiti coatings are not.

CLEANER

The graffiti-removal system of the present invention is specificallydesigned to employ a cleaner which is formulated to remove graffiti andother unwanted materials from the surface of the disclosed protectivecoatings without compromising or harming the protective coatings. Thecleaner is selected to be non-toxic, biodegradable and safe for use inor near water sources,

The cleaner of the present invention includes N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP)in an amount greater than fifty percent by weight. A high concentrationof N-methyl pyrrolidone is most conducive to cleaning of contaminantsfrom surfaces but is destructive to solvent-evaporated coatings orpolymeric coatings having low density cross-linking (see immersion testsof TABLE III). Therefore, the present coatings are formulated towithstand NMP in concentrations greater than 95% by weight.

The cleaner also includes a surfactant which acts with the N-methylpyrrolidone to provide complete cleaning of the surface and may containan oil-based fragrance. The surfactant may be either anionic ornonionic, and may be in either a powder or liquid forms. A particularlysuitable surfactant is Plurafac D-25, an anionic surfactant made by BASF(Parsippany, N.J.) which acts in the manner of a chelating agent.

The cleaner is effective for removing unwanted materials from surfaceshaving a protective coating. The cleaner may be applied to a graffitiedsurface by any number of means, including spraying or brushing it on,applying with a cloth, or the like. The cleaner should be slightlyagitated or rubbed onto the graffitied surface with a brush or cloth.Water is then applied against the surface at a pressure of between 40 to120 psi. Water applied from a squirt bottle will often suffice. Thewater should be directed downwardly to allow the graffiti and cleaner toflow downwardly off the surface.

The cleaner of the invention may be used on other surfaces other thanthose coated with the water-based epoxy or aliphatic urethane coatingsdisclosed herein. The cleaner is effective for removal of epoxy- andurethane-based spray paints of the kind typically used for graffiti,indelible inks, industrial chemicals, food stains, solvents, and othersubstances.

EXAMPLE AND TABLES

The base component of the water-based epoxy may be formed by thefollowing method:

Example A

In a large container, twenty-five percent by weight of 331 Epoxy Resin(Dow Chemical), three percent by weight of Epodil 732 (Glycidyl etherdiluent), one percent by weight of Igepal Co-897 (coalescing agent), onepercent by weight of BYK®-034 (defoamer), five percent by weight of2-butoxyethanol and thirty-one percent by weight of water were mixedtogether with a stirring action. To the mixture was added thirty-fourpercent by weight of titanium dioxide pigment, and the mixture wasstirred again for ten minutes. All mixing took place at roomtemperature. The weight of the combined ingredients was measured at11.715 pounds per gallon (1.39 kg/l).

The reactant component of the water-based epoxy coating may be formed bythe following method:

Example B

In a large container, fifty-eight percent by weight of Casamid 360 Wpolyamide resin, fifteen percent by weight of isopropyl alcohol (99% byconcentration) and twenty-seven percent by weight of tap water wereadded together and stirred at room temperature for approximately tenminutes until blended. The resulting mixture was measured at 8.24 poundsper gallon (0.98 kg/l).

The base component of the aliphatic urethane coating may be formed bythe following method:

Example C

In a large containers about fifty percent by weight of Desmophen 650A-65PMA was added to about seven percent by weight of methyl isobutylketone. To that was added about fifteen percent by weight of xylene(Ashland Chemical, Columbus, Ohio), about twenty-seven percent by weightof n-butyl acetate (urethane grade) and about one percent by weight ofBYK 370, a hydroxy polydimethylsiloxane (BYK-Chemie USA, Wallingford,Conn.). A mixture of about 0.2 percent by weight of combined ethylacrylate and 2-ethylhexl acrylate copolymer (Modaflow®, Monsanto, St.Louis, Mo.) was added as a flow agent. The entire mixture was stirredfor about ten minutes at room temperature. The resulting mixture wasmeasured at 8.273 pounds per gallon (0.98 kg/l).

The reactant component of the aliphatic urethane coating may be formedby the following method:

Example D

In a large container, about sixty-nine percent by weight of DesmodurN-75, a polymeric hexamethylene diisocyanate, was added to about fifteenpercent by weight of xylene, about fifteen percent by weight n-butylacetate, and about one percent by weight of alkyl ortho formate. Themixture was stirred about ten minutes at room temperature. The resultingmixture was measured to be 8.227 pounds per gallon (0.98 kg/l).

A method of forming the cleaner is set forth as follows:

Example E

To approximately ninety-eight percent by weight of N-methyl pyrrolidonewas added about two percent by weight Plurafac D-25 surfactant, and themixture was stirred at room temperature. The mixture may be stored atroom temperature in air-tight containers indefinitely.

The cleaner may also be formulated as a paste by the addition of athickening agent, as follows:

Example F

To approximately 95% by weight of N-methyl pyrrolidone was added about5% by weight Aerosil®200 (Degussa Corp., Richfield Park, N.J.) a fumedsilica!, 2% by weight of Plurafac D-25 surfactant! and 1% by weightfragrance, and the mixture was combined into a paste.

                  TABLE I    ______________________________________    Test Method              Control  1 Month   2 Months                                         3 Months    ______________________________________    ALIPHATIC POLYESTER URETHANE--CLEAR COAT    WEATHEROMETER TEST RESULTS    Specular Gloss              98       98        95      91    (ASTM D-523)    Chalking           None      None    None    (ASTM D-659)    Cracking           None      None    None    (ASTM D-661)    Color Difference              Clear    None      None    None    (ASTM D-2616)    ALIPHATIC POLYESTER URETHANE--COLOR COAT    WEATHEROMETER TEST RESULTS    Specular Gloss              61       58        50      45    (ASTM D-523)    Chalking           None      None    None    (ASTM D-659)    Cracking           None      None    None    (ASTM D-661)    Color Difference              White    None      None    None    (ASTM D-2616)    ______________________________________

The aliphatic polyester urethane coatings tested in TABLE I wereprepared according to ASTH D-609 protocol and were allowed to cure for 5days. A portion of each coating was set aside in a dark container toserve as a control sample and the remaining samples were attached to therotating test fixture of a standard weatherometer. The samples werecontinuously exposed to U.V. radiation. Each indicated test wasperformed in accordance with the ASTM protocol noted. All ASTM protocolsreferred to herein are 1990 protocols.

                  TABLE II    ______________________________________    ALIPHATIC POLYESTER URETHANE (APU)    CHEMICAL SPOT TEST COMPARATIVE DATA    SPOTTING MATERIALS                  SILANE    APU COATING EPOXY    ______________________________________    MEK           10 min. B NE          NE    Carboxylic Acid                  20 min. SF                            NE          NE    75% Phosphoric Ac.                  6 min. SF NE          NE    37% HCL       15 min. B NE          19 Hr. D    50% Sulfuric Acid                  3 Hr. B   NE          NE    20% Nitric Acid                  19 Hr. B  68 Hr. B    35 Hr. D    ______________________________________     Legend:     NE = No Effect After 5 days     SF = Softened Film     LF = Lifted Film     B = Blistered     D = Discolored     (Each coating was applied at 2 mil (0.051 mm) thickness to a flat     surface.)

                  TABLE III    ______________________________________    N-METHYL PYRROLIDONE IMMERSION TESTING DATA                                       PERMA           APU  PROSOCO    TEXCOTE ®                                       SHIELD ®    ______________________________________    Softening             NE     Immed.     Immed.    15 min.    Lifting  NE     5 min.     5 min.    15 min.    Blistering             NE     5 min.     5 min.    15 min.    Discoloration             None   None       None      None    ______________________________________     (NE = No Effect After 7 days)

The present invention may be used in many applications in addition tothat of removal of graffiti as described hereinabove. The presentinvention may be employed successfully, for example, in applying aprotective coating to walls in hospitals, industrial chemical treatmentplants, food preparation areas, and the like. Chemical solvents,cleaners, and other defacing materials such as food, will not harm theprotective coating surface, and are easily removed with the cleanermeans described. Reference herein to specific details of thegraffiti-removal system is by way of example and not by way oflimitation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that manymodifications of the basic formulations and methods may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as recited by theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for protecting a substrate with a twolayer protective coating, the method comprising:priming a substrate witha water-based primer formed from a primer composition comprising anacrylic copolymer and water to yield a primed substrate with apolymerized primer layer;wherein the primer layer is at leastsubstantially clear; forming a composition by mixing a polyol and analiphatic polyisocyanate;wherein said polyol is selected from the groupconsisting of saturated polyester polyols having an equivalent weightranging from about 150 to about 1300, acrylic polyols, polyetherpolyols, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol; and applying thecomposition under ambient conditions onto the primer layer and allowingthe composition to form a saturated, aliphatic urethane protectivetopcoat under ambient conditions;wherein said topcoat is at leastsubstantially clear; wherein said primer layer prevents the topcoat fromcausing the substrate to appear substantially darkened after the topcoathas hardened on the primer layer compared to the appearance of thesubstrate before application of the two layer protective coating;whereby the substrate is protected by the ability of the topcoat tosubstantially resist penetration by unwanted substances and wherebyunwanted substances applied onto the topcoat can be removed with asolvent without substantially degrading the topcoat.
 2. A method forprotecting a substrate with a protective coating as defined in claim 1,further comprising the step of applying a cleaner to remove any unwantedsubstances from the topcoat after unwanted substances are applied ontothe topcoat, the cleaner being applied without substantially degradingthe topcoat.
 3. A method for protecting a substrate with a protectivecoating as defined in claim 1, wherein said saturated polyester polyolshave a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 3500 to about4300.
 4. A method for protecting a substrate with a protective coatingas defined in claim 1, wherein the composition is formed by mixing aflatting agent with the polyol and the aliphatic polyisocyanate;andwherein the urethane protective topcoat has a finish that is at leastprimarily flat.
 5. A method for protecting a substrate with a protectivecoating as defined in claim 4, wherein the flatting agent is selectedfrom the group consisting of talc, diatomaceous silica and fumed silica.6. A method for protecting a substrate with a protective coating asdefined in claim 4, wherein the flatting agent is included in thecomposition in an amount ranging up to about 4.5% by weight of thecomposition.
 7. A method for protecting a substrate with a protectivecoating as defined in claim 1, wherein said aliphatic polyisocyanate hasa molecular weight ranging from about 100 to about 5000 and anequivalent weight ranging from about 100 to about
 500. 8. A method forprotecting a substrate with a protective coating as defined in claim 2,wherein said cleaner comprises N-methyl pyrrolidone.
 9. A method forprotecting a substrate with a protective coating as defined in claim 2,wherein said cleaner comprises N-methyl pyrrolidone in a concentrationin a range from about fifty percent to one hundred percent by weight ofthe cleaner.
 10. A method for protecting a substrate with a protectivecoating as defined in claim 2, wherein said cleaner is selected from thegroup consisting of acetone and xylene.
 11. A method for protecting asubstrate with a protective coating as defined in claim 2, furthercomprising rinsing the cleaner and any unwanted substances off of thetopcoat.
 12. A method for protecting a substrate with a two layerprotective coating, the method comprising:priming a substrate with awater-based primer formed from a primer composition under ambientconditions comprising an acrylic copolymer and water to yield a primedsubstrate with a polymerized primer layer;wherein the primer layer is atleast substantially clear; forming a composition by mixing a flattingagent, a saturated polyester polyol having a weight average molecularweight ranging from about 3500 to about 4300 and an aliphaticpolyisocyanate; applying the composition onto the primer layer andallowing the composition to form a saturated, aliphatic urethaneprotective topcoat under ambient conditions;wherein said topcoat is atleast substantially clear; wherein said topcoat has a finish that is atleast primarily flat; wherein said primer layer prevents the topcoatfrom causing the substrate to appear substantially darkened after thetopcoat has hardened on the primer layer compared to the appearance ofthe substrate before application of the two layer protective coating;whereby the substrate is protected by the ability of the topcoat tosubstantially resist penetration by unwanted substances and wherebyunwanted substances applied onto the topcoat can be removed with asolvent without substantially degrading the topcoat.
 13. A method forprotecting a substrate with a protective coating as defined in claim 12,wherein the primer composition further comprises siloxane and dimethylcarbinol.
 14. A method for protecting a substrate with a protectivecoating as defined in claim 12, wherein the flatting agent is selectedfrom the group consisting of talc, diatomaceous silica and fumed silica.15. A method for protecting a substrate with a protective coating asdefined in claim 12, wherein the flatting agent is included in thecomposition in an amount ranging up to about 4.5% by weight of thecomposition.
 16. A method for protecting a substrate with a protectivecoating as defined in claim 12, further comprising the step of applyinga cleaner to remove any unwanted substances from the topcoat afterunwanted substances are applied onto the topcoat, the cleaner beingapplied without substantially degrading the topcoat.
 17. A method forprotecting a substrate with a protective coating as defined in claim 16,wherein said cleaner comprises N-methyl pyrrolidone.
 18. A method forprotecting a substrate with a protective coating as defined in claim 16,wherein said cleaner is selected from the group consisting of acetoneand xylene.
 19. A method for protecting a substrate with a protectivecoating as defined in claim 16, further comprising rinsing the cleanerand any unwanted substances off of the topcoat.